“We begin fiscal 2017 positioned for growth,” continued Mr. Kahn, “and start the year with twice the sales people, a much larger pipeline, and a faster sales cycle compared to the beginning of fiscal 2016. We also have a larger addressable market thanks to the 2016 release of our Pro-Series and enhanced Marketier products that deliver more customer value out of the box, have stronger license to services ratios, and even faster sales cycles. Our new products and stronger sales teams are expected to further accelerate customer acquisition and drive stronger financials in 2017.”

Fourth Quarter Highlights:

SaaS revenue increased 8.5% to $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Recurring revenue increased 2.3% to $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015; our iAPPS recurring revenue increased 19.3% to $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $1.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. This is part of our continued strategy to focus only on iAPPS product and related work.

License and hosting revenue combined in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 comprised 48.7% of total revenue, compared to 41.2% of total revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Gross margin improved to 59.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, from 50.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. Cost of revenue was reduced by $743,000, or 32.9%, to $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Operating expenses were reduced by $298,000, or 9.1% to $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, from $3.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 (excluding goodwill impairment charges).

Year-to-Date Highlights:

SaaS revenue increased 11.4% to $5.2 million in fiscal 2016, compared to $4.7 million in fiscal 2015.

Recurring revenue increased 2.9% to $7.0 million in fiscal 2016, compared to $6.8 million in fiscal 2015; our iAPPS recurring revenue increased 27.1% to $6.4 million in fiscal 2016, compared to $5.1 million in fiscal 2015. This is part of our continued strategy to focus only on our iAPPS product and related work.

Subscription and perpetual license revenue increased 5.1% to $6.1 million in fiscal 2016, compared to $5.8 million in fiscal 2015.

Cost of revenue was reduced by $3.8 million in fiscal 2016, or 34.0%, to $7.3 million in fiscal 2016, from $11.0 million in fiscal 2015.

Excluding a goodwill impairment charge in fiscal 2015, operating expenses for fiscal 2016 were reduced by $1.6 million, or 11.8%, to $12.2 million, from $13.8 million in fiscal 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA improved over $1.8 million, from a loss of $2.6 million in fiscal 2016 compared to a loss of $0.8 million in fiscal 2015.

Debt has been reduced by $5.7 million, to $2.1 million at September 30, 2016 compared to $7.8 million at September 30, 2015. All debt is with our bank line of credit which is supported by our Accounts Receivables.

Financial Results

Fourth Quarter

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 was $3.7 million, compared to $4.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. Subscription and perpetual license revenue remained constant at $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. License and hosting revenue combined in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 comprised 48.7% of total revenue, compared to 41.2% of total revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. SaaS revenue increased 8.5% to $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Gross margin improved to 59.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, from 50.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, reflecting a larger mix of recurring and service-based revenue. Cost of revenue was reduced by $743,000, or 32.9%, to $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $2.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Operating expenses were reduced by $298,000, or 9.1% to $3.0 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $3.3 million (excluding goodwill impairment charges) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, reflecting management’s ongoing expense control initiatives. Loss from Operations was $766,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to $982,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 (excluding goodwill impairment charges).

Inclusive of a $2.7 million non-cash charge related to the inducement of convertible notes, net loss was $3.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to a net loss of $11.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $300,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to income of $21,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Year to Date

Revenue for the 12 months ending September 30, 2016 was $15.9 million, compared to $19.2 million in fiscal 2015. Subscription and perpetual license revenue increased 5.1% to $6.1 million in fiscal 2016, compared to $5.8 million in fiscal 2015. SaaS revenue increased 11.4% in fiscal 2016 to $5.2 million, compared to $4.7 million in fiscal 2015. License and hosting revenue combined for fiscal 2016 comprised 46.4% of total revenue, compared to 38.1% of total revenue in fiscal 2015.

Gross margin improved to 54.2% in fiscal 2016, from 42.6% in fiscal 2015. Cost of revenue was reduced by $3.8 million, or 34.0% to $7.3 million in fiscal 2016, from $11.0 million in fiscal 2015.

Operating expenses for fiscal 2016 were reduced by $1.6 million, or 11.8%, to $12.2 million, from $13.8 million in fiscal 2015 (excluding goodwill impairment charges).

Inclusive of a $3.4 million non-cash charge related to the inducement of convertible notes, net loss decreased by 53.3% to $7.8 million in fiscal 2016, from a net loss of $16.8 million in fiscal 2015.

Adjusted EBITDA improved by approximately $1.8 million to a loss of $785,000 in fiscal 2016, from a loss of $2.6 million in fiscal 2015.

Financial Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2017 the Company expects revenue in the range of $3.8 million to $4.0 million.

The Company also expects sequential revenue growth for each quarter in fiscal 2017.

Conference Call Information

Bridgeline Digital will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2016 results at 4:30 p.m. ET today. To listen to the conference call, please dial (877) 837-3910 within the U.S. or (973) 796-5077 for international callers.

Non-GAAP adjusted net income and non-GAAP adjusted earnings per diluted share are calculated as net income or net income per share on a diluted basis, excluding, where applicable, amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation, loss on inducement of convertible notes, goodwill impairment charges, restructuring charges, preferred stock dividends and any related tax effects.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA per diluted share are defined as earnings before interest and inducement charges on conversion of debt, taxes, depreciation and amortization, goodwill impairment, stock-based compensation charges, restructuring charges, preferred stock dividends and any related tax effects. Bridgeline uses non-GAAP adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).

Bridgeline’s management does not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant expenses and income that are required by GAAP to be recorded in the Company's financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgments by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures. In order to compensate for these limitations, Bridgeline management presents non-GAAP financial measures in connection with GAAP results. Bridgeline urges investors to review the reconciliation of its non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures, which is included in this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate Bridgeline's financial performance.

Our definitions of non-GAAP adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA may differ from and therefore may not be comparable with similarly titled measures used by other companies, thereby limiting their usefulness as comparative measures. As a result of the limitations that non-GAAP adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA have as an analytical tool, investors should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP.

All statements included in this press release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "potential," "continue," "ongoing," or similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the impact of the weakness in the U.S. and international economies on our business, our inability to manage our future growth effectively or profitably, fluctuations in our revenue and quarterly results, our license renewal rate, the impact of competition and our ability to maintain margins or market share, the limited market for our common stock, the volatility of the market price of our common stock, the performance of our products, our ability to respond to rapidly evolving technology and customer requirements, our ability to protect our proprietary technology, the security of our software, our dependence on our management team and key personnel, our ability to hire and retain future key personnel, or our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls as well as other risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of such risks could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About Bridgeline Digital

Bridgeline Digital, The Digital Engagement Company™, helps customers maximize the performance of their full digital experience – from websites and intranets to online stores and campaigns. Bridgeline’s iAPPS® platform deeply integrates Web Content Management, eCommerce, eMarketing, Social Media management, and Web Analytics to help marketers deliver digital experiences that attract, engage and convert their customers across all channels. Headquartered in Burlington, Mass., Bridgeline has thousands of quality customers that range from small- and medium-sized organizations to Fortune 1000 companies. To learn more, please visit www.bridgeline.com or call (800) 603-9936.